Chapter 10: Confrontations and Regrets
Chapter 10: Confrontations and Regrets
(Scarlett’s POV)
Emma’s brow furrowed as she leaned forward, her glass of amber liquid untouched in her hand. “Scarlett, there’s something I need your help with” she said her voice low but firm.
I raised an eyebrow at her serious tone. What is it?” I asked, setting my glass down and giving her my full attention
Emma hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering with worry. She sighed and then spoke it’s Timothy, my cousin” She bit her lip, looking uncertain “He’s in a really bad way.”
“Go on” I prompted gently, though my wolf, Cora, already stirred with interest. Something about Emma’s tone made me uneasy.
“Timothy’s an omega in the Chase Pack” Emma explained, her hands wrapping around her glass tightly. Three months ago, he got into some kind of fight with rogues, and they… they cursed him.”
I stiffened at that. Curses weren’t things to take lightly:
Emma swallowed hard and continued. “He can’t shift properly anymore. It’s like his body gets stuck halfway through, and the pain is unbearable. He even passed out during a training session last week.”
She looked at me with pleading eyes. “I wouldn’t ask
ask if it wasn’t serious, Scarlett. I think you’re the only person who can really assess what’s wrong with him”
I leaned back in my seat, tapping my finger against the edge of the glass as I thought. “A curse affecting shifting? That’s rare. Even advanced healers don’t encounter that kind of thing often.”
“It’s more than rare. It’s a nightmare,” Emma said urgently. “One of the healers suggested some herbs, but nothing worked. Now I’ve heard whispers about a potion from the Stone Pack. Apparently, they’ve developed something new.”
I frowned at that, “You want to try a potion for this?” hesitated, my natural instincts warning against such quick fixes. “Those things can have side effects, Emma. They don’t always work the way you want them to.”
Emma’s expression softened, but her voice stayed firm. 1 know how you feel about these shortcuts, Scarlett, I get it. But Timothy doesn’t have much
time. Every failed shift takes more out of him. He’s losing strength fast. Please, just come with me to see what the Stone Pack healer has to say”
Her earnestness gave me pause. Despite my per
personal reservations, I couldn’t turn away from someone who was clearly suffering
“Alright,” I said after a long moment. T’ll go with you. But don’t get your hopes up until we know all the details.”
Emma’s face lit up with relief. Thank you,” she said, her voice breaking slightly. “Seriously, Scarlett, thank you. This means everything to me.”
“Text me the details,” I said as I stood, grabbing my coat “We’ll leave first thing tomorrow.”
Emma nodded enthusiastically, already pulling out her phone to send me the information.
After parting ways with Emma, I drove home in relative silence. But the moment unlocked my front door, every muscle in my body went rigid.
My living room was a disaster.
Herbs were scattered across the couch, glass potion bottles were smashed on the floor, and the sharp scent of spilled oils lingered in the air. My wooden coffee table was flipped on its side, and one of my bookshelves had been rilled through, books left in disarray
I stepped inside cautiously, my emerald eyes scanning every corner of the room. Whoever had broken in had searched quickly and carelessly Dut they wouldn’t find anything important here. All my critical research and rare supplies were locked away securely elsewhere.
I crouched down, brushing my fingers over the shards of glass on the floor. The lingering earthy aroma told me they had spilled a bottle of wolfstiane extract. My lips curled into a cold smile. Amateur
This wasn’t a random break–in. Someone was trying to send a message.
I let out a low chuckle, standing up and brushing my hands off. Pathetic,” I muttered under my breath.
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Chapter 10 Capfrontations and Regrets
I let out a low chuckle, standing up and brushing my hands off. “Pathetic.” I muttered under my breath
Then I felt it–a subtle but familiar pressure against my mind. Marcus Winter’s beta was trying to establish a link through the pack connection.
Without hesitation, I blocked him..
Seconds later, a stronger, more forceful presence smashed against my shields. Marcus himself. His Alpha command radiated power, insistent and
heavy like a battering ram against my mental barriers.
I didn’t falter. My shields held steady, and I strengthened them further, refusing him entry
The air around me grew tense as the p pressure from his energy lingered. But I knew he couldn’t break through. No one could force something from
me I wasn’t willing to give.
Once the relentless battering stopped, I exhaled slowly, leaning back against the wall, My defiance would likely enrage Marcus further, but I didn’t
care. He’d already taken enough from me.
(Marcus’s POV)
I paced the length of my office, my hands clasped behind my back as frustration churned inside me. The dim lighting of the room cast long shadows across the polished floors, but they did little to calm my rising anger.
“She’s blocking me,” I growled, glaring at the far wall. “Sarah, did you hear me? She’s actively blocking her Alpha.”
Marah sat elegantly in the leather chair across from my desk. But the tightness in her posture betrayed her uncase. She held a teacup in her hands.
though I doubted she’d taken more than a single sip
“Yes, Marcus,” she said with forced calm. “I understand the severity of the situation. But we knew Scarlett’s attitude would be difficult to manage.”
I turned sharply, slamming my hands down on the desk in front of her. The sound echoed through the room like a gunshot
“Difficult to manage?? I demanded, my voice low and dangerous. “Sarah, she’s our daughter. The daughter we need to secure this political marriage. And she’s slipping further from our grasp every second.”
Sarah flinched slightly but held her composure. “If you think I haven’t been trying to resolve this, you’re mistaken she snapped. “Do you think I enjoy this chaos? The pack is falling apart with all the gossip surrounding Grace and Alexander
“Yes, Grace!” | barked,cutting her off. “Do you even understand how much damage that girl has caused? She and Alexander were seen together yet
again, this time at the healing den. In an intimate moment, no less!”
Sarah paled visibly, her fingers tightening around her teacup. That’s an exaggeration,” she said weakly. “Alexander was only comforting her-”
“Comforting her?” I laughed bitterly. “And how do you explain their repeated rendezvous becoming the talk of the entire pack? Do you think this will make Scarlett more inclined to play along with our plans? This public display of favoritism is a slap in her face.”
“Grace is ill” Sarah defended, though her voice lacked conviction. “She needs support. My instincts as a mother-”
“She’s not our daughter! The words exploded from me, silencing her abruptly
Sarah’s lips pressed into a thin line, but her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
I wasn’t finished. “No matter how much you’ve grown attached to Grace, she’s not Scarlett. She never has been. Scarlett is the one with the ties, the
connections, and the bloodline necessary to secure this alliance. We can’t afford to lose her over your.., misplaced sentimentality”
*You think I don’t know that?” Sarah whispered, her voice breaking slightly
I softened, just barely. The anger in my chest shifted to something closer to regret.
“We failed her I admitted quietly, my tone losing its sharp edge. “During her childhood, we were absent when she needed us. That fature rests on
both of us.”
Sarah’s shoulders slumped, the teacup trembling slightly in her hands.
“This situation,” I continued, straightening as I regained my resolve, is spiraling out of control. And I won’t stand by while we lose everything. I’m going to her house”
Sarah perked up slightly, her eyes widening. Til come with you, she offered quickly.
I shook my head curtly. “No. You’ll only make things worse”
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Chapter 10 Confrontations and Regrets
Sarah perked up slightly, her eyes widening. Till come with you,” she offered quickly.
I shook my head curtly. “No. You’ll only make things worse.”
Her gaze sharpened. “Her attitude-“Her attitude,” I interrupted, my voice cold, is the result of years of neglect and dismissal. And you didn’t help matters by revoking her pack privileges. That was a petty move, Sarah.”
Her eyes filled with indignation, but she said nothing as I continued.
Restore her access immediately, I commanded, my Alpha authority wrapping around every word.
Her jaw tightened, but she nodded stiffly, unable to disobey.
Without another word, I turned on my heel, grabbing my coat and striding toward the door. I had a daughter to confront. One way or another, this situation had to be resolved before it tore the pack apart entirely.
